Pipe-tongs



H. W. FLETCHER.

PIPE TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 30, 1919.

1 ,337,509. Patented Apr. 20, 1920,

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PIPE TONGS. A-EELICATION FILED JAN- 30, 1919.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PIPE TONGS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 19m.

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PIPE TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, I919- Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

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HAROLD W. FLETCHER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

PIPE-TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application filed January 30, 1919. Serial No. 274,117.

To cZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD FLETCHER,

citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, Harris county, Texas, have in vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pipe-Tongs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in pipe tongs for use in screwing and unscrewing pipe. The tool is especially adapted for use with large sizes of pipe, but it may be adapted for use with pipe of any ordinary size.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a wrench or pair of tongs for the purpose described which will be capable of quick adjustment and which canbe at tached to and detached from the pipe simply by a turn of the handle.

Another object is to provide a wrench or tongs with few parts, which will be strong and rugged in construction and capable of withstanding the heavy strains to which such tools are subjected.

Another object is to provide a tool of the character described which will be capable of operation in either direction, that is, either right hand or left hand turn, and which will work with equal facility in either direction.

Another object is to provide a tool of the character described wherein the jaws will open and close practically automatically as the handle is operated, and wherein the same will adjust themselves to certain sizes of pipe without rearrangement of the parts.

These and other objects will more clearly appear in the description which follows and will be set forth with more particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein like parts are designated by like numerals so far as possible throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred ombodiment of my invention. F ig, 2 isa similar View showing the clamping jaws in a different position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. l is a perspective view of one of the clamping jaws used with the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of one of the pins by means of which the jaw is attached to the head of my improved tool. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of my invention. Fig. 7 represents a plan view of a still different embodiment thereof. F ig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the pin used with this embodiment of my invention.

In the preferred embodiment of my improved pipe tongs shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inelusive, the head of the tool is arc-shaped as shown especially in Figs. 1 and 2, and has attached thereto an elongated handle 2 by which the tongs are operated. An eye-bolt is pivoted through the handle in the usua manner for attachment to a cable so that the tool may be suspended from a well derrick or other support 111 connection with the apparatus upon which the tool is used. The

head 1, being arc-shaped, is provided with two forwardly extending arms 4- and a central stop or shoulder 5, adapted to contact with the pipe being operated upon. The forward arc-shaped face of the head is also provided with a deep recess 7, longitudinal Y of said head into which the gripping jaws used with this head are adapted to fit. The forward ends of the arms 4: are provided with circular transverse openings 8 into which pins 9 are adapted to fit, said pins being provided at either end with openings 10 through which cotter pins or other retaining means may be passed.

The jaws 11, which are adapted to fit within the recess 7 of the head, have an inner arc-shaped face adapted to clamp against the pipe, said arc-shaped face being provided with detachable teeth 18. These teeth, as will be noted, are triangular in cross section and fit within transverse openings in the jaws in such manner that one of the sharp points of the triangle projects from the inner arced face of the jaw so as to grip the pipe more firmly. The sharp edge of the triangular tooth is held in posit-ion by an approziimately rectangular, tapered plug 19, adapted to be driven within a similar shaped opening behind said tooth. It is apparent that when one sharp edge of the tooth becomes dull, it may be withdrawn and turned in such manner that another sharp edge thereof may be presented out wardly to grip the pipe.

As will be seen, especially in Fig. l, the jaw comprises two curved end sections 12,

Cir

connected by an intermediate portion 13 conforming on one side to the arc-shaped inner face of the jaw, and provided on the face between the two laterally projecting portions 12, with a fiat raised portion 15, the purpose of which will presently appear. two end portions 12 are provided with elongated openings or slots 14 to accommodate the pivoting pin 9 in the. head of the tongs previously described.

The pin 9, as will. be seen in Fig. 5, has a flat face 16 on one side thereof extending from the lower end nearly to the upper end thereof. This flat face, when the pin is passed through the slots let, in the end members'lfZ, will contact with the raised portion .15 on the intermediate section and thus prevent rotation of the jaw upon the pin and also furnish a sliding contact between the pin and the jaw by providing the sides of the slots ll with a flat, straight sliding surface, as shown. It will be obvious that the shortest distance from the arc shaped face of the jaw to the slots will be located at a point midway of the said slot and that when the pin 9 is moved either way from a central position in said slot, the jaw itself will be forced inwardly in such manner as to grip the pipe 20 when same is located between the jaws. In Fig. 1, the jaws are shown advanced forwardly from the head so that the pins 9 are at the rearward end of said slots let. The outer end of the arcshaped jaw is thus thrown back until the rearward, rounded face thereof contacts with the outer face of the recess '7 in the head. This will allow the tongs to be shoved forward inclosing the said pipe, as shown in l. is the head is farther advanced the pipe will pass inwardly between the jaws and contact with the rear ends thereof in such manner is to close the same. The jaws will also be thrown backwardly by the contact of the pipe therewith until. the pins assume a central position in the slot as shown in Fig. 2. The aws in this position will grip the pipe somewhat closely and the pipe will be prevented from passing further by contactwith the shoulder 5 at the forward face of the head.

hen in this position, the pipe may be rotated in either direction. By twisting the handle in a direction toward the upper part of the pipe in Fig. 2, the pin 9 in the up per part of Fig. 2, will be forced outwardly in the slot 14 of the jaw, thereby increas ing the distance between the pin and the pipe, thus acting to wedge the jaw between the pin and the pipe to grip the same firmly. The pinin thelowest arm of the head will be thrown to the right in said figure, thus also acting, as in case of the other jaw, to wedge the jaw between the pin and the pipe thereby also acting to grip the pipe more firmly. A continuation of the swing of the The the jaws themselves.

handle will serve to turn the pipe and screw or unscrew the same as-desired. As will be readily apparent it will make no difference which way the handle is swung, as the jaw will be forced in to grip the pipe in the same manner, no matter which direction the handle is thrown. The wrench will thus serve to act with equal facility in either direction and will grip the pipe with an automatic action and retain the same firmly during the operation. Attention is also called to the fact'that the action of closing and gripping the jaws to the pipe is practically automatic. If the jaws are thrown open, as shown in Fig. 1, the tongs may he shoved forward inclosing the pipe and the contact of the pipe with the rearward end of the jaws will automatically close the jaws and adjust the pins toward the central part of the slots after which a turn of thehandle will serve to grip the jaws upon the pipe. When it is desired to detach the tongs from the pipe, the handle is givena slight reverse pull, forcing the pins 9 again into position toward the central part of the slot and if the handle is given a backward pull the jaws will automatically open and release the p p In Fig. 6 a modified form of my invention is shown in which one only'of the two jaws is provided with a slot 14- by means of which it is pivoted to the pin 9 inthe prongs of the head. The other jaw 11 is pivoted pen the arm at at a point midway its ends by passing the pin 9 through a circular openingin the said jaw. This aw, as will be seen, is adapted to swing in a forward direction for some distance, but is limited in its inward swing by the face of the slot '7 1n the head. The opposite jaw: 11 is provided with a slot 1 3; which, instead of ha ving-straight sides as in the 1 embodi ment, has sides slightly curved from the forward gripping faces of the jaws. This structure will. serveto increase more rapidly the distance betweenythe pin and the ward gripping face of the jaw as the pin is moved toward either end of the said slot 141-. The teeth 18" upon the forward gripping faces of thejaws are not removable as in the previous modification, but formed by being out within the gripping faces of The handle 2 of this wrench is also provided with a modified form of attached eyelet 3, said eyelet bein retained upon the handle by having an attaching ring- 21 which'is bent about the handle and retained. rotatablyin position against longitudinalmovement on the handle by retaining lugs This method of retaining the eyelet 3 to the handle allows the tongs to be turned within, the retaining ring 2]. so that either side thereof may be presented upwardly as desired. This supporting means for the tongs is adapted for use on the improvements of my invention andis, in fact, the preferredsupporting attachment.

In the operation of this type of tongs the action will be approximately the same as in the previously described embodiment. Both of the jaws will be swung outwardly. The pin 9 in the lower jaw will be positioned in the inner end of the slot ll. As the tongs are thrust into contact with the pipe, the jaws will be swung inwardly as before, so as to grip the pipe as shown in Fig. 6. A movement of the handle in either direction will then serve to move the pin 9 toward one end of the slot 14 thereby forcing the jaw 11 inwardly against the pipe. The jaw 11, as will be obvious, will not be forced toward the pipe, the only clamping action being obtained through the jaw 11.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 to i) inclusive, the head 1 is provided with two flat forwardly projecting arms 4, having pivoting pins 9 on the forward end thereof. The stop 5 for the pipe 20 is formed upon the forward end of a projecting lug or boss 23. The aws 11 are pivoted on the pins 9 by means of slots i l? in the said jaws. The pins 9 are flattened on one side, as shown at 16*, and are provided with a recess 2 in the flattened face midway between the ends of each of said pins. The flattened faces of the pins are adapted to contact with the flattened forward edges of the slots '14- as shown in the drawing. The slots lat are formed somewhat to the rear of one of the jaws 11 and toward the forward end of the opposite jaw. Vhen the pin 9 assumes a position toward the forward end of the slot in the upper jaw in F 7, it will be at its nearest point to the forward gripping face of the jaw. In the case of the lower jaw 11 the pin 9 will be at the point closest to the forward. arc-shaped face thereof when it is at the rearward end of the slot 14? therein. The jaws in this modification are retained in close contact with the pipe at all times by means of a leaf spring 25, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, said spring fitting within the recess 24 in the pin 9 and within a recess 26 in the inner part of the jaw 11*. Thisspring will serve to bear against the pin in such a manner as to throw the jaw toward the pipe in an obvious manner. It will also serve to prevent longitudinal movement of the pin 9 in the opening in. the jaw and thus retain the same against displacement. The jaws shown in this niodith cation are otherwise in close conformance with the shape described in connection with Figs. lto 5 inclusive, but are adapted to fit over the forward ends 4 of the head instead of within a recess in the said arms.

This type of tongs is adapted to rotate the pipe in one direction only. When the aws are opened. to grip the pipe, they assume the position shown in Fig. 1, and, when the pipe is received therein, the jaws are automatically adjusted by the contact of the pipe with the rearward faces of the jaws, so that the pins 9 assume the position in the slots in which they are mounted where they will be at the shortest distance from the pi e 20 being gripped thereby. It will be noted that the pin 9" on the upper jaw in T will assume a position at the forward end of said slot 14 he pin in the lower jaw will be positioned toward the rearward end of that slot. In this position, if the handle of the wrench is swung in a counter-clockwise direction as that shown in Fig. 7, the jaws will not be tightened but will slip pon the pipe, due to the fact that the jaws are not forced into close enough contact with the pipe by the spring :25 to cause the same to obtain a tight hold on the pipe for rotation. But when the handle of the tongs is swung in a clockwise direction. as shown in Fig. 7, the pins 9 will be forced toward the opposite end of the slot and as the distance between the pin and the pipe will thereby be increased as the flat surface 16 of the pin moves along the flat face 15 of the slot, he jaws will thereby be forced into tight gripping contact with the pipe and will thereby serve to'rotate the same. The stop port' n1 5 of the head pr vents the movement of the pipe beyond the gripping position of the jaws and said stop portion is recessed slightly under the forward portion thereof as shown at 27 in Fig. 7. so that the jaws may be received thereunder when the same are swung to their farthest inner position.

This type of wrench is provided with the rotatable supporting eyelet 3 in the same manner as the wrench disclosed. in Fig. 6, thereby making it possible to turn the tongs either side up as desirel, in order to thus be able to rotate the pipe in either direction by simply detaching the tongs and then reversing their position. This type of tool is especially adapted for rapid operation in. rotating the pipe in one direction, as it will be apparent that if the handle is swung in one direction, the jaws will grip the pipe and rotate the 831116. If the handle then given a swing in the opposite direction the tongs will slip on. the pipe and no rotation of the pipe will. take place. In this main ner a reciprocating swing of the handle pf the tongs will serve to alternately grip the pipe and rotate it and then slip hack for another hold and a second partial rotatirm. This operation will be especially useful when it is nec ary to obtain a powerful swing of the pipe handle by he use of the cat head upon the hoisting drum. as is soineannes necessary. A rope passed over the drum and then over the handle of the wrench will serve to give it a partial turn as the driun is wound up. The handle may then be ill) swung back and a new grip obtained by means of the rope from the drum and another swing obtained in the same manner. The springs serve to keep the jaws in contact with the pipe at all times as the handle is reciprocated thus making it possible to obtain a quick grip when the handle is swung in the proper direction.

The tool constitutin 1n invention will a y 7 be seen to be of simple construction and parent without further description; what I claim as new and desire to protect by Let ters Patent is:

1.. In a pair of pipe tongs, a single handle, a forked head having two branching prongs of equal length thereon, pins passing through both arms of said head, arc-shaped jaws pivoted on said'pins, said jaws being spaced apart and unconnected andmeans on one of saidjaws cooperating with its pivot pin to decrease the distance between said jaws. V

2. In a pair of pipe tongs, a handle, a forked head thereon,pins passing through the prongs of said head, arc-shaped jaws pivoted on said pins and spaced apart and unconnected, one of said jaws having a slot therein, one of said. pins passing through said slot, said slot being so arranged that the sliding of said pin thereon will move said jaw toward the, opposite jaw, and a stop portion on said head between said jaws.

3. A pair of pipe tongs comprising a handle, a two-pronged head thereon, a pivoting pin in each prong thereof;v jaws with arc-shaped inner toothed faces thereon, said jaws having openings therein to receive said pins, one of said openings being so formed relative to the curved face of the jaw that the sliding of said pin therein will force said jaw toward said opposite jaw, said jaws being separate and independent of each other.

4. A pair of pipe tongs comprising in combination a handle, a forked head, jaw spaced from each other and pivoted 011 said forked head, pivoting means comprising pins on said head fitting in slots in said jaws, said slots being arranged in nonparallel relation to the inner faces of said jaws, whereby the movement of the pins toward one end of said slots will cause the jaws to be forced toward each other.

5. In pipe tongs, a crescent-shaped head having two forwardly projecting arms, said head and arms being recessed, two arcshaped aws in the recessed portion, pivoting pins in said arms passing through slots in said jaws, said slots being so arranged that the movement of said pins therein in either direction from a central position in said slots 7 will serve to clamp the jaws toward each other.

6. In pipe tongs, a head, two pins in the forward end of said head and having fiat faces, jaws pivoted on said pins said jaws having longitudinal slots therein, the inner face of eachof said slots being adapted to slide upon a fiat face onsaid pins and serve to prevent free rotation of S i jaw ,1 said pins, said slots being in non-parallel relation to the forward curved faces of the jaws, whereby the movement of said pins in said slots will force the jaws toward or from each other.

7. In pipe tongs, a crescent-shaped head having two forwardly projecting arms, a stop member between said arms, arc-shaped jaws having slots pivoted on said arms, the

pivot means comprising pins in said arms passing through the slots in said jaws, said slots being in non-parallel relation to the arc-shaped faces of said jaws whereby the sliding of said pins in said slots in either direction from the central point thereof will clamp said jaws upon the work.

' S. A pipe tongs comprising a head, pivot pins fixed in said head, two arcuate' jaws pivoted thereon, a lever arm on said head, and means to force said jaws toward each other actuated by the movement of the pivoting points in either direction relative to a central point on either of said jaws.

9. In pipe tongs, a handle, a crescent shaped head thereon, a pair of separate areshaped jaws having straightslots at points approximately midway of the ends thereof,

and pivot pins in the prongs of said ores-- centshaped head passing slidably through said slots. 7

10. In pipe tongs, a forked handle, a pair of separate arc shaped jaws, each jaw having a concave gripping face anda slot approximately midway of the ends of the same in non-parallel relation to said face and pins in said handle passing through said slots, to

cause said jaws to be forced toward each other when the handle is swung in either direction. I p

11. A pipe tongs comprising a' head,two arc-shaped jaws pivoted thereon in slots approximately midway the ends of said jaws, a single lever arm on said head and means actuated by the swinging of said level arm to force ac jaw toward the pipe- 12- n a pair f pipe to gs, a f ke head, pivot pins on both'of the arms of said head, arc-shaped jaws pivoted on said pins in slots midway of the ends of said jaws, said jaws being spaced apart and unconnected, one of said jaws being slidable on its pivot so that the movement of said pivot pin in either direction in said slots from the central point of said jaw will decrease the distance between said jaws.

13. In a pair of pipe tongs, a crescentshaped head having two forwardly projecting arms, a stop member between said arms, arcuate slotted jaws pivoted on said arms, pins in said arms passing through the slots in said jaws, said slots being so formed relative to the gripping faces of said jaws that the movement of said pivot pins from a middle point in said slots will clamp said jaws upon the work.

14:. In pipe tongs the combination of a head, two forwardly projecting prongs thereon, pivot pins in said prongs, opposed arcshaped jaws pivoted to swing approximately midway of their ends on said pins, said pins being slidable relative to said jaws whereby the swinging of said head in either direction will act to clamp said jaws upon the work, and a stop member on said head between said jaws for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature this the 25th day of January A. D.

HAROLD W. FLETCHER. 

